Highway guard rail



y 4. 3 l L. P. LAUFFENBURGER HIGHWAY GUARD RAIL Filed March 10, 1950 R 0Y m E w; N WE R F 7% W V 5 p f s u a W a j 2 g V 9 g A 3 W A Y M w A Y.0 W

Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATNT OFFICE This invention relatesto highway guard rails and aims generally to improve the same.

Principal objects of the invention severally and interdependently are toprovide a highway guard rail of novel and simple construction; toprovide a novel form of intermediate post therefor; to provide a novelform of end post therefor and cooperative therewith; to provide neatstrong means for securing the guard cables in the posts, in which themode of securement is effected in a concealed manner guardingagainsttampering therewith by children, for example. Other objects ofthe invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionof a proposed embodiment thereof. The invention resides in the new anduseful combinations and features of construction hereinafter exemplifiedand pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention:

Figs. 1 and 2 are front and side elevations of an intermediate post,partially broken away.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of an end post, and

Fig. 5 is a more or less diagrammatic front elevation on a reduced scaleshowing the highway guard rail assembly.

A highway guard rail according to the present invention comprises guardcable retaining and stretching intermediate and-end postsub-combinations having special provisions mutually cooperating with thestretched cable to afford a neat, strong assembly so arranged that achild or casual passerby will be unlikely to tamper therewith.

The intermediate posts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are of tubular form.They may be made of standard pipe of 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch or 10 inchdiameter, for example, and may be of any weight desired. In the formshown, the proportions of which are approximately those preferred for asix inch pipe, the tubular body I is preferably closed at its upper endby a dished top plate 2 seal-welded about its edge 3. The tubular body 5may be closed at its lower end as by a weldedin plate 4, if desired, butthis plate 4 may be emitted in the case of intermediate posts notsubject to any heavy vertical components of thrust.

Still referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the tubular bodyI is provided with at least one chordal slot 5 therein, two such slots,parallel to and spaced longitudinally from each other, being shown. Eachslot 5, as shown in Fig. 2 is of a width and depth to receive secantwisea standing part of a highway guard cable, represented in the embodimentshown by a standard inch stranded steel cable 6.

Adjacent each chordal slot 5, and herein above the same, the tubularbody 5 is provided with a longitudinal slot i, say about one-half inchwide, and with outer and inner bolt plates 8 and s, interconnected by ashank it extending through slot l, in any suitable way, as by welding,for example. As shown, shank iii is preferably square sided, fornon-rotatable sliding engagement with the slot 1, and the plates 8 and9, in each instance are curved to fit the curvature of the adjacent wallof the body l. A sliding assembly is thus afforded adapted to be movedto positions opening the center of the chordal slot 5 (as shown in thecentral parts of Figs. 1 and 2) and closing the same, as shown in theupper parts of Figs. 1 and 2.

As is also shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer plate 8 is preferably soformed or extended that when the bolt is moved to its slot closingposition the slot i remains completely concealed by the plate 3. Inaddition, the plate 9, on its inner face, is preferably provided with aprojection H, for ex ample a welded on bead about inch deep by say oneinch long, by which the cable retainer 89 is held down when the cable isin place and taut.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the end post sub-combination of theinvention, in the form shown, comprises a tubular body ta, preferablyclosed at its upper and lower ends by closures 2a and id similar toclosures 2 and 4 of Figs. 1 and 2. The post la is provided with at leastone guard cable anchoring and tightening tube or sleeve member 5a whichextends secantwise through the body la and is fixed therein, as bywelding at 5b, in a position generally corresponding to the position ofthe slot 5 in the member I. In the form shown two of these cable anchortubes 5a, parallel to and longitudinally spaced from each other, areemployed, corresponding to the two cable slots in Figs. 1 and 2.

In addition to the cable anchor tubes 5a the end post shown is furtherprovided with a second or land anchor tube l2 similarly fixed in thepost, and preferably parallel to the tubes 5a and closer to the upperthan to the lower one of them, for the purpose now to be described.

The new highway guard-rail combination, employing the new intermediateand end posts described, is exemplified in Fig. 5. As there shown, theguard rail cables 6, the standing parts of which are pressed into thechordal slots 5 in the intermediate posts 5, are provided with bighforming cable clamps M of any desired form, by

which they are secured to the eyes l5 of eye-bolts l6 which pass throughthe end post tubes 5a through which they may be tightened by suitablemeans as the nut and lock nut means ll.

The end post la is braced and supported by land anchor means of anysuitable form (not shown) which comprises the anchor cable [8 andturnbuckle l9. In its preferred form the latter comprises an angle bolt20 secured in the anchor tube [2 as by nut means 2!, and an eye-bolt 22to which the land anchor cable is is secured as by bight-forming clamps23. For most purposes the anchor cable l8 may be aligned with the planeof the guard rail, but if desired, this may extend out of this plane,and the angle bolt Ell enables the turn-buckle to tilt over accordingly.

In the installation of the highway guard rail of this invention, the endpost or posts, the intermediate posts, and the land anchor or anchorshaving been set up, the cables 5 are adjusted to appropriate lengths andclamped to the slacked ofif bolts I6. The cables 6 are then seated inthe chordal grooves 5, and the tighteners I! and I9 are appropriatelyadjusted. If desired, the bolt plates 89 may be partially lowered duringthis tightening operation. Preferably after the cables 6 are fullytightened, the bolt plates 8?: are driven down tight, causing theprojections H to pass beyond and, under the taut standing parts of thecables 8 extending secantwise behind them. The bolt members 8-9 are thusheld down against easy lifting.

Since the plates 8 of the bolt members completely conceal the slots l,the manner of operation thereof is not easily discerned by a casualpasserby desiring to tamper with themv Yet when servicing of the guardrail is needed, these members may easily be driven up to open thechordal slots, particularly if the cables be first slacked ofi at ll.The ends of the bolts l6 and 28 may be deformed, if desired, to dissuadetamperers from attempting to loosen them, and similar deformatio may beapplied to hinder loosening of the cable clamp elements Hi and 23, ifdesired.

It is to be understood that the particular embodiment herein describedis illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of whichis defined in the appended claims. All modifications which come withinthe meaning and range l of equivalency of the claims are thereforeintended to be included therein.

I claim as my invention:

1. A highway guard rail comprising at least one end post, and at leastone intermediate post, said intermediate post being tubular and havingat least one chordal slot therein of a width and depth to receivesecantwise a standing portion of a guard cable, said intermediate posthaving a second slot therein normal to said chordal slot and insubstantial alignment with the center thereof and further having boltingmeans comprising an outer bolt operating plate and an inner bolt plateinterconnected through said second slot and slidable therealong topositions opening and closing the center of said chordal slot, said endpost having at least one tube extending secantwise therethrough andfixed therein in a position corresponding generally to that of thechordal slot in said intermediate post, a guard cable having a standingpart for fitting into the chordal slot in said intermediate post, an eyebolt and a bight-forming cable clamp for securing said cable to said eyebolt, said eye bolt formed to pass through said tube and to be drawntherethrough to tighten said cable, a second tube extending secantwisethrough said end post in substantially the same vertical plane as theaforesaid tube, an angled turn buckle having a bolt end to extendthrough said second tube and having an eye end, and land anchor meansincluding a cable and a nightforming cable clamp for engaging the samewith the eye end of said turn buckle, said inner bolt plate having aprojection thereon formed to pass beyond and lockingly engage saidtightened cable when the bolt is moved to said slot closing positionwith the cable in place in said chordal slot, and said outer bolt plateconcealing said second slot when said bolt is moved to said slot-closingposition.

2. A highway guard rail according to claim 1, in which theinterconnection between said outer and inner bolt plates is square sidedfor nonrotative sliding in said second slot.

3. A highway guard rail according to claim 1, in which said outer andinner bolt plates are curved to conform to the outer and inner curvature of said tubular post.

4. A highway guard rail according to claim 1, in which each intermediatepost comprises two longitudinally spaced parallel chordal slots and inwhich each end post comprises two of the first named tubeslongitudinally spaced from and parallel to each other and aligned withthe chordal slots of the intermediate posts, and in which the secondnamed tube is positioned between said two first named tubes and closerto the upper than to the lower one thereof.

5. A highway guard rail according to claim 1 in which said intermediatepost is permanently closed at its upper end, said closure concealingfrom observation the arrangement of said internal bolt plate.

6. A highway guard rail according to claim 1 in which said end post hasa closed substantially flat bottom end to prevent sinking of the post inthe ground under the vertical component of force of said land anchor.

7. A highway guard rail post sub-combination of tubular form having atleast one chordal slot therein for receiving secantwise a standingportion of a guard cable, said post having a second slot extendinglongitudinally thereof adjacent said chordal slot and inner and outerbolt plates interconnected through said second slot and slidablerelative thereto to positions opening and closing the center of saidchordal slot, said outer plate, in the chordal slot closing positionthere of, concealing said longitudinal slot.

8. A highway guard rail post according to claim '7, in which said innerplate has a projection thereon formed to pass beyond and lookinglyengage the tightened cable standing part when said plate is moved tosaid slot closing position with the cable in place in said chordal slot.

9. A tubular highway guard rail post according to claim 7, said postbeing permanently closed at its upper end, said closure concealing fromobservation the arrangement of said internal bolt plate.

10. A tubular highway guard post according to claim 9, said post alsohaving a closed substantially flat bottom end.

11. A highway guard rail post sub-combina tion comprising a tubular postbody having at least one chordal slot therein of a size and depth toreceive, secantwise, a standing part of a guard cable, said post furthercomprising a longitudinal slot adjacent said chordal slot, outer andinner bolt plates interconnected by a shank extending through saidlongitudinal slot and slidable therealong to positions closing andopening the center of said chordal slot, said outer and inner latesbeing curved to conform to the curvature of said tubular post body, andsaid outer plate concealing said longitudinal slot in the aforesaid slotclosing position thereof.

12. A highway guard rail post sub-combination comprising a tubular postbody and a tubular sleeve extending secantwise therethrough entirely atone side of the central plane thereof and Welded in place therein.

13. A highway guard rail post sub-combination comprising a tubular postbody and a plurality of parallel tubular sleeves extending secantwisetherethrough entirely at one side of the central plane thereof andWelded in place therein.

14. A highway guard rail ost sub-combination comprising a tubular postbody and a plurality of parallel tubular bolt guiding sleeves extendingsecantwise therethrough and welded in place therein.

15. A highway guard rail post sub-combination according to claim 12,having a closed sub- 25 stantially flat bottom end to prevent sinking ofthe post into the ground.

16. A highway guard end post sub-combination comprising a tubular postbody having three longitudinally spaced parallel tubular sleeves extending secantwise therethrough entirely at one side of the centralplane thereof and welded in place therein, said tubular sleeves beinglocated in the upper portion of the post with the central one of thethree tubes closer to the upper one than to the lower one.

17. A highway guard end post sub-combination according to claim 16, saidtubular sleeves extending outwardly beyond the surface of the post andhaving radial lengths, measured from the radial plane of the post normalto the sleeves, greater than the radius of the post, therebyfacilitating the turning of nuts to tighten tensioning bolts passedthrough said sleeves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re. 21,715 Ahles Feb. 18, 1941 519,573 Hamilton May 8, 1894693,061 Pegg Feb. 11, 1902 772,795 Fjeld Oct. 18, 1904 886,544 SawyerMay 5, 1908 1,050,589 Young Jan. 14, 1913 1,795,544 Eisenmann Mar. 10,1931 1,964,404 Lynch June 26, 1934

